Ahsoka Part Seven: Dreams and Madness Thoughts
Was this episode, like Thrawn’s plan, a waste of time?
Geeta Vasant Patel ( House of Dragon) takes the reins of the penultimate episode of Ashoka, the first Star Wars episode to tell a story across two galaxies. Speaking of House of Dragon, the penultimate episodes of Game of Thrones seasons are known to have more action and excitement than the season finales. On the other hand, most of the Star Wars series have saved all the action (and 75% of the budget) for the finale, taking some time in the penultimate for significant character moments. Think about The Mandalorian season two’s “The Believer” and the conversations between Mando and Migs Mayfeld about the Mandalorian creed. Or The Book of Boba Fett’s “From the Desert Comes A Stranger” with Luke and Grogu. Slower story beats usually mark a turn in a hero’s journey. With Star Wars and Game of Thrones franchises colliding, I was wondering which we would get, and it turns out, more of the same, which is not necessarily bad.
Hera’s Hero
Back in our (the original Star Wars) galaxy, Hera gets to insult Senator Xiono to his face on Hosnian Prime. Xiono calls for a motion to court-martial General Syndulla. Fortunately, Hera has friends in high places, and C-3P0 joins the fun with a transcript from Senator Organa that she sent Hera on the mission to Seatos. That saves Hera from Xiono’s wrath and brings in Leia, who technically should be involved but cannot be in the show for obvious reasons. The greatest strength of the Star Wars Disney Plus has been bridging the gap between all three trilogies and the animated series. Filoni has pulled elements from Prequel, Original, Sequel Trilogies, The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Star Wars Resistance in this show alone.
And that is all we get from Hera and Chopper in this episode and, I fear, for the rest of the series. She is likely a payoff for future events.
The Bridge In Between
Speaking of bridging trilogies, Hayden Christensen returns briefly as Anakin Skywalker in a holo recording pep talk that Ahsoka plays as she runs through her training. Huyang tells her that the Purrgil are slowing down and will likely exit hyperspace soon. Ahsoka’s words with Anakin in “Shadow Warrior” clearly initiated a change as she is lighter and joking with Huyang. When the Purgill exit hyperspace, they are attacked by a minefield surrounding the planet in an act of pure animal cruelty by Thrawn. The whales quickly exit back to hyperspace, leaving Ahsoka and Huyang to deal with the mines and a strike force.
The (Anti)hero’s Journey?
Baylan Skoll’s motivation remains the biggest mystery of the series. He definitely does not trust Thrawn (and the feeling is mutual). He accepts that his Padawan wants that “fleeting” power he mentioned in the last episode, so Baylan sends her on her way with a warning: “Impatience for victory will gurantee defeat.” That sounds like the opening words of wisdom from The Clone Wars episodes and acts as foreshadowing.
Baylan also has another showdown with Ahsoka, which is less eventful. Ahsoka should have won this fight, but I guess Baylan is supposed to be more skilled because he tells her she can’t defeat him. That’s some high confidence, but Ahsoka recognizes he is wasting time and uses her ship for cover while she steals his mount.
Baylan’s passivity in this episode does not go unnoticed by Thrawn, who notes his absence and suggests his responsibility for the mission’s failure. And Thrawn is not wrong. When Ahsoka breaks away and heads off toward Ezra and Sabine, Baylan knows where she is going and chooses not to follow, heading in the opposite direction. He did not abandon his Padawan but did not save her, which could parallel Ahsoka and Sabine (or even Anakin and Ahsoka). But Baylan made it clear to Shin that her ambition was leading her down a different path from him. We will see where his path leads in the next episode.
The Madness of Inconsistencies
Again, I ask how the Grand Mothers sensed where Ahsoka was immediately when her ship landed, but they could not find Ezra?
And Ezra not taking Sabine’s lightsaber while providing some very Ezra banter made no sense though, given the gravity of their situation. Yes, he is taking from his former Masters teachings of not depending on a lightsaber but this felt more like plot convenience. Still, Sabine fares better fighting here than in any of the fights thus far, including with Shin, as her choreography finally matches the Mandalorian battles we have become used to in The Mandalorian. She has now fought Shin three times, and the two seem destined for one more showdown. But the fight would have been over if Ezra had his lightsaber.
I have not mentioned Ezra that much because he simply has not done much other than get filled in on what he missed (therefore filling in non- Rebels fans). We have one episode left and it feels like we are missing a key scene with him talking about his life for the past ten years. He only recaps what we already know back to Sabine but we get nothing about what his world has been like. Of course there is more time coming with him (whether in a season two of Ahsoka or Filoni’s film) but this should have happened in this episode.
When Thrawn calls a retreat, his troopers ditch Shin, and Baylan’s Padawan refuses Ahsoka’s hand and runs for it. She probably rejoined Thrawn’s fleet instead of searching for her Master. While Baylan’s motives are unclear, they still align with his character as presented. Shin’s decision feels out of place. Yes, she has done things more firmly in the dark side camp (trying to suffocate Sabine out of anger), but she also respects Baylan and does not particularly seem to like Morgan. However, having Baylan make the call for the two to part ways could allow Shin to get more development in whatever choice she makes. Shin has taken orders throughout the show and was defeated in her first solo campaign. Will she learn anything, or will she double down? Previously, I mentioned that I thought Baylan and Shin’s journeys would end when the series did. I take it back- Shin could be the new Imperial Remnant Force-user, which means she would return in some future project. And continue to be a thorn in Sabine Wren’s side.
Thrawn’s Gameplan
But the attack was all a distraction. That is what Thrawn tells Morgan when the Grand Admiral calls back his troops. By sending them to attack Ezra and Sabine, Thrawn drew Ahsoka into that fight instead of towards the Chimera, where some unknown cargo is being loaded for their departure. He rightly believes that Ahsoka and the team will still be stranded in this galaxy without a map if they leave. Thrawn does not have to defeat them; he just has to run out the clock. Wisely, this episode showcased the Grand Admiral’s strategic prowess. He even has the clueless Watson to his Sherlock in Elsbeth, who is still waiting for something cool to do. In their own way, Thrawn and Morgan are also a version of a Master and Apprentice.
Thrawn is still a step ahead, so the crew must double time and catch up in the finale while still watching out for whatever Baylan is pursuing.
“Well, they’re all back together. I hope I survive long enough to see the outcome.”
Ahsoka, Dreams and Madness
Funny lines from Huyang, but I sure hope this isn’t foreshadowing.
Originally published at http://creditsandcanon.com on September 27, 2023.
